Flush Glass Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flush glass apparatus includes an operation glass including a glass portion and a frame, and a locking device including an operation handle installed on the frame, an upper lifting member installed on an upper side of the frame and including an upper cam groove and an upper locking pin, an upper operation shaft having a lower side connected to the operation handle and an upper side entering the upper cam groove and including an upper protrusion, an upper spring, a lower lifting member installed on a lower side of the frame and including a lower cam groove and a lower locking pin protruding to the lower side of the frame, a lower operation shaft having an upper side connected to the operation handle and a lower side entering the lower cam groove and including a lower protrusion, and a lower spring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2019-0151184, filed on Nov. 22, 2019, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, which application is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a flush glass apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Large passenger vehicles such as RVs (Recreational Vehicles) and SUVs(Sport Utility Vehicles) are equipped with a flush glass apparatus.

The flush glass apparatus includes a fixed glass having an opening, anoperation glass moving in a sliding manner to open and close the openingof the fixed glass, and a locking device locking the operation glass ina closed state or releasing the locking to open the operation glass.

The locking device may include locking pins installed on the operationglass to be able to ascend and descend, restoration springs restoringthe locking pins in a locking direction, and a plurality of operationhandles for moving the locking pins in an unlocking direction.

However, because the flush glass apparatus as above has a structure inwhich a user moves the plurality of operation handles in the verticaldirection to unlock the restoration springs, it is difficult to open andclose the operation glass. In addition, because the plurality ofoperation handles is not restored during the opening of the operationglass, it is difficult to provide a beautiful appearance.

SUMMARY

The disclosure relates to a flush glass apparatus. Particularembodiments relate to a flush glass apparatus capable of easily openingand closing an operation glass and stably binding the operation glasswhen the operation glass is closed.

It is an aspect of embodiments of the disclosure to provide a flushglass apparatus capable of easily opening and closing an operation glassby an easy operation of a locking device.

It is another aspect of embodiments of the disclosure to provide a flushglass apparatus capable of providing a beautiful appearance by restoringan operation handle in a state in which an operation glass is opened orclosed.

Additional aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a flush glassapparatus includes an operation glass including a glass portion and aframe and configured to open and close an opening of a fixed glass bysliding in a lateral direction, and a locking device configured to lockand unlock the operation glass, wherein the locking device includes anoperation handle installed on the frame to be rotated left and right andconfigured to be restored to its original state by a restoration spring,an upper lifting member installed on an upper side of the frame andincluding an upper cam groove and an upper locking pin protruding abovethe frame, an upper operation shaft having a lower side connected to theoperation handle and an upper side entering the upper cam groove andincluding an upper protrusion extending radially in the upper camgroove, an upper spring configured to move the upper lifting member bypressing upward, a lower lifting member installed on a lower side of theframe and including a lower cam groove and a lower locking pinprotruding to the lower side of the frame, a lower operation shafthaving an upper connected to the operation handle and a lower sideentering the lower cam groove and including a lower protrusion extendingradially in the lower cam groove, and a lower spring configured to movethe lower lifting member by pressing downward.

The upper operation shaft may be connected to the operation handle by anupper connection shaft having an upper side penetrating a lower portionof the upper lifting member to enter the upper cam groove and a lowerside rotatably supported on the frame.

The lower operation shaft may be connected to the operation handle by alower connection shaft having a lower side penetrating an upper portionof the lower lifting member to enter the lower cam groove and an upperside rotatably supported on the frame.

The upper cam groove and the lower cam groove may each include a firstinclined cam surface configured to come into contact with the upperprotrusion or the lower protrusion when the operation handle is rotatedin an opening direction and move the upper lifting member or the lowerlifting member to an inner side of the frame by a first distance, and asecond inclined cam surface configured to come into contact with theupper protrusion or the lower protrusion when the operation handle isrotated in a closing direction and move the upper lifting member or thelower lifting member to an inner side of the frame by a second distanceshorter than the first distance.

The first inclined cam surface may have a length and a height in avertical direction longer than the second inclined cam surface.

The flush glass apparatus may further include an upper rail slidablysupporting an upper portion of the frame and having an upper guidegroove extending in a lengthwise direction to guide the movement of theupper locking pin, and a lower rail slidably supporting a lower portionof the frame and having a lower guide groove extending in a lengthwisedirection to guide the movement of the lower locking pin.

The upper guide groove and the lower guide groove may each include acurved guide portion configured to induce the upper locking pin or thelower locking pin to the outdoor side so that an outer surface of theoperation glass forms the same plane as an outer surface of the fixedglass when the operation glass is completely closed, and a lockinggroove formed deeper upward or downward than the upper guide groove orthe lower guide groove so that the upper locking pin or the lowerlocking pin is caught thereon in a state in which the operation glass iscompletely closed.

The lower guide groove may include a plurality of intermediate lockinggrooves formed deeper downward than the lower guide groove at positionsspaced apart from each other in a moving direction of the lower lockingpin so that the lower locking pin protrudes and is caught thereon in theopening process of the operation glass, and a locking groove formeddeeper downward than the lower guide groove so that the lower lockingpin protrudes and is caught thereon in a state in which the operationglass is completely opened.

A width of the plurality of intermediate locking grooves may be formedlarger than a diameter of the lower locking pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a flush glass apparatus according to anembodiment of the disclosure when an operation glass is closed;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the flush glass apparatus according to anembodiment of the disclosure when the operation glass is opened;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the operationglass of the flush glass apparatus according to an embodiment of thedisclosure is separated from a fixed glass;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the fixed glass sideof the flush glass apparatus according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the operation glass and alocking device of the flush glass apparatus according to an embodimentof the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the operation glass and a lower rail ofthe flush glass apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates the locking device mounted on the operation glass ofthe flush glass apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of the locking device of the flushglass apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure,illustrating a state before operation and a state after operation,respectively;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views illustrating in detail anoperating principle of the locking device of the flush glass apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a curved guide portion and a locking grooveprovided in an upper guide groove and a lower guide groove of the flushglass apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 11, 12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate first and second inclined camsurfaces of upper and lower lifting members, and an operating principlethereof in the locking device of the flush glass apparatus according toan embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIGS. 13, 14A, and 14B illustrate a plurality of intermediate lockinggrooves provided in the lower guide groove of the flush glass apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments describedbelow are provided by way of example so that those skilled in the artwill be able to fully understand the spirit of the disclosure. Thedisclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, but may beembodied in other forms. In order to clearly explain the disclosure,parts not related to the description are omitted from the drawings, andthe width, length, thickness, etc. of the components may be exaggeratedfor convenience.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a flush glass apparatus according to anembodiment of the disclosure includes a fixed glass 100 provided with anopening 101, an operation glass 200 configured to move in a lateralsliding manner to open and close the opening 101 of the fixed glass 100,and a locking device 300 configured to lock the operation glass 200 in astate of being closed or release the locking to open the operation glass200.

The fixed glass 100 may be formed in a rectangular panel shape having along length in a transverse direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.The fixed glass 100 may be mounted in a state in which a rim portionthereof is sealed on a side surface of a vehicle body (not shown). Thefixed glass 100 includes a see-through glass portion 103 and the opening101 that is opened and closed by the operation glass 200.

A sealing member 110, an upper rail 120, a lower rail 130, and aconnection rail 140 may be mounted on an inner surface of the fixedglass 100. The sealing member 10 is installed along an inner side of therim portion of the fixed glass 100 so that the fixed glass 100 maymaintain sealing when mounted on the vehicle body. The upper rail 120guides a lateral sliding of the operation glass 200 while supporting anupper side of the operation glass 200, and the lower rail 130 guides thelateral sliding of the operation glass 200 while supporting a lower sideof the operation glass 200. The connection rail 140 connects a front endof the upper rail 120 and a front end of the lower rail 130 at an innerside of the fixed glass 100 and is coupled to a front end of theoperation glass 200 when the operation glass 200 is closed, so that thesealing of the opening 101 may be maintained as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The operation glass 200 includes a see-through glass portion 210, aframe 220 supporting a rim portion of the glass portion 210, and asealing member 230 coupled to an inner surface of a rim portion of theframe 220, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7.

The rim portion of the glass portion 210 is attached to the frame 220,and the sealing member 230 is mounted on the frame 220 in a formsurrounding an outer side of the glass portion 210. The sealing member230 seals a gap between the operation glass 200 and the fixed glass 100while coming into close contact with the inner surface of the fixedglass 100 when the operation glass 200 is closed.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the operation glass 200 includes a frontupper locking pin 221 and a rear upper locking pin 322 coupled to theupper rail 120, and a front lower locking pin 222 and a rear lowerlocking pin 332 coupled to the lower rail 130. The upper rail 120 isprovided with a front upper guide groove to which the front upperlocking pin 221 is coupled, and a rear upper guide groove to which therear upper locking pin 322 is coupled. The lower rail 130 is providedwith a front lower guide groove 132 to which the front lower locking pin222 is coupled, and a rear lower guide groove 133 to which the rearlower locking pin 332 is coupled. Although the drawings do not clearlyillustrate the front upper guide groove and rear upper guide groove ofthe upper rail 120, they may be provided similar to the front lowerguide groove 132 and the rear lower guide groove 133 of the lower rail130 illustrated in FIG. 6.

The operation glass 200 may slide in opening and closing directions asthe front upper locking pin 221 and the rear upper locking pin 322 arecoupled to the front and rear upper guide grooves of the upper rail 120and the front lower locking pin 222 and the rear lower locking pin 332are coupled to the front and rear lower guide grooves 132 and 133 of thelower rail 130.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the locking device 300 may includean operation handle 310, an upper lifting member 320, a lower liftingmember 330, an upper operation shaft 340, a lower operation shaft 350,an upper connection shaft 360, a lower connection shaft 370, an upperspring 381, a lower spring 382, an upper connection pin 383, a lowerconnection pin 384, a restoration spring 390.

The operation handle 310 may be installed in a state exposed to an outerside of the frame 220 so that a user may easily operate the operationhandle 310, and the remaining parts of the locking device 300 may beaccommodated in the frame 220 or installed in an exposed state toward arear surface of the frame 220.

The operation handle 310 may be installed on a vertical middle portionof the frame 220 to be rotatable left and right. The operation handle310 may be restored to its original state by the elasticity of therestoration spring 390 installed on the lower connection shaft 370 sidewhen an operation force by the user is released.

The upper lifting member 320 is installed on an upper side of the frame220 to be able to ascend and descend and may include the upper camgroove 321 and the upper locking pin 322 extending upward to protrudeabove the frame 220. The upper locking pin 322 may have an axis linecoincident with a rotation center line of the operation handle 310.

Like the upper lifting member 320, the lower lifting member 330 isinstalled on a lower side of the frame 220 to be able to ascend anddescend and may include the lower cam groove 331 and the lower lockingpin 332 extending downward to protrude below the frame 220. The lowerlocking pin 332 may also have an axis line coincident with the rotationcenter line of the operation handle 310.

Referring to FIGS. 8A, 11, and 12A, an upper side of the upper operationshaft 340 penetrates a lower portion of the upper lifting member 320 andenters the upper cam groove 321, and a lower side of the upper operationshaft 340 is connected to the upper connection shaft 360 rotatablysupported on the frame 220. The upper connection shaft 360 is connectedto rotate together with the operation handle 310. Therefore, the upperoperation shaft 340 may rotate together when the operation handle 310rotates.

The upper operation shaft 340 includes an upper protrusion 341 whoseupper end is bent to extend in a radial direction within the upper camgroove 321. Therefore, when the upper operation shaft 340 rotates by theoperation of the operation handle 310, the upper protrusion 341 rotateswhile coming into contact with an inner surface of the upper cam groove321, thereby lifting the upper lifting member 320.

A lower side of the lower operation shaft 350 penetrates an upperportion of the lower lifting member 330 and enters the lower cam groove331, and an upper side of the lower operation shaft 350 is connected tothe lower connection shaft 370 rotatably supported on the frame 220. Thelower connection shaft 370 is connected to rotate together with theoperation handle 310. Therefore, the lower operation shaft 350 mayrotate together when the operation handle 310 rotates.

The lower operation shaft 350 includes a lower protrusion 351 whoseupper end is bent to extend in a radial direction within the lower camgroove 331. Therefore, when the lower operation shaft 350 rotates by theoperation of the operation handle 310, the lower protrusion 351 rotateswhile coming into contact with an inner surface of the lower cam groove331, thereby lifting the lower lifting member 330.

Referring to FIG. 5, the upper connection shaft 360 and an upper side ofthe operation handle 310 may be rotatably supported on the frame 220 bymounting the upper connection pin 383 at a rotation center thereof. Thelower connection shaft 370 and a lower side of the operation handle 310may also be rotatably supported on the frame 220 by mounting the lowerconnection pin 384 at a rotation center thereof. The restoration spring390 may be installed on the lower connection shaft 370 when the lowerconnection pin 384 is mounted.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 12A, the upper spring 381 may be a compressioncoil spring pressing the upper lifting member 320 upward in a state ofbeing installed on an outer surface of the upper operation shaft 340.The upper spring 381 may be provided such that a lower end thereof issupported on the upper connection shaft 360 and an upper end thereof issupported on the upper lifting member 320, in a state of being fitted tothe upper operation shaft 340. Therefore, the upper spring 381 may movethe upper lifting member 320 upward when the operation handle 310 is notoperated.

The lower spring 382 may be a compression coil spring pressing the lowerlifting member 330 downward in a state of being installed on an outersurface of the lower operation shaft 350. The lower spring 382 may beprovided such that an upper end thereof is supported on the lowerconnection shaft 370 and a lower end thereof is supported on the lowerlifting member 330, in a state of being fitted to the lower operationshaft 350. Therefore, the lower spring 382 may move the lower liftingmember 330 downward when the operation handle 310 is not operated.

Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, and 12A, when the locking device 300rotates the operation handle 310 in an open direction as shown in FIG.8B from the state of FIG. 8A, the upper lifting member 320 and the lowerlifting member 330 are pulled to an inner side (to the operation handleside) of the frame 220 by the action of the upper operation shaft 340and the upper cam groove 321 and the action of the lower operation shaft350 and the lower cam groove 331. Therefore, the locking of the upperlocking pin 322 and the lower locking pin 332 may be released from thestate of FIG. 9A to the state of FIG. 9B.

The upper locking pin 322 and the lower locking pin 332 of the lockingdevice 300 are coupled to the rear upper guide groove 123 of the upperrail 120 and the rear lower guide groove 133 of the lower rail 130,respectively, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 10A, and 10B. Therefore, theoperation glass 200 may slide without being deviated from the upper rail120 and the lower rail 130 because the upper locking pin 322 and thelower locking pin 332 move along the upper guide groove 123 and thelower guide groove 133.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the rear upper guide groove 123 of theupper rail 120 and the rear lower guide groove 133 of the lower rail 130include curved guide portions 126 and 136 for inducing the upper lockingpin 322 and the lower locking pin 332 to the outdoor side, respectively,so that an outer surface of the operation glass 200 may form the sameplane as an outer surface of the fixed glass 100 when the operationglass 200 is completely closed. The rear upper guide groove 123 and therear lower guide groove 133 also include locking grooves 125 and 135formed deeper upward or downward, respectively, so that the upperlocking pin 322 and the lower locking pin 332 protruding from the frame220 may be caught thereon in the state in which the operation glass 200is completely closed.

When the operation glass 200 is closed in the closing direction in thestate of FIG. 10A, the upper locking pin 322 and the lower locking pin332 move toward the locking grooves 125 and 135 along the curved guideportions 126 and 136 and then protrude outside the frame 220 by theelasticity of the upper spring 381 and the lower spring 382 asillustrated in FIG. 10B to enter and be caught on the locking grooves125 and 135. Therefore, when the operation glass 200 is completelyclosed, the outer surface of the operation glass 200 and the outersurface of the fixed glass 100 may maintain the same plane. In thisstate, the operation glass 200 is not opened as long as the operationhandle 310 is not operated.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the front lower guide groove 132 of the lowerrail 130 may include a curved guide portion 132 a inducing the frontlower locking pin 222 to the outdoor side so that the outer surface ofthe operation glass 200 may form the same plane as the outer surface ofthe fixed glass 100 when the operation glass 200 is completely closed.Although not shown in the figure, the front upper guide groove of theupper rail 120 is the same as the front lower guide groove 132 of thelower rail 130.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the rear lower guide groove 133 includes aplurality of intermediate locking grooves 137 and a rear locking groove138.

The plurality of intermediate locking grooves 137 is formed deeperdownward than the lower guide groove 133 at positions spaced apart fromeach other in a moving direction of the lower locking pin 332 so thatthe lower locking pin 332 may protrude and be caught thereon in theopening process of the operation glass 200. The rear locking groove 138is formed deeper rearward than the lower guide groove 133 so that thelower locking pin 332 may protrude and be caught thereon in a state inwhich the operation glass 200 is completely opened.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the plurality of intermediate lockinggrooves 137 may have a width W larger than a diameter d of the lowerlocking pin 332. Therefore, when the operation of the operation handle310 is released while the operation glass 200 slides in the opening orclosing direction, the lower locking pin 332 protruding downward may bestopped by being caught on any one of the intermediate locking grooves137. The lower locking pin 332 may move as in FIG. 14A, and then enterand be caught on the intermediate locking groove 137 as in FIG. 14B.Because the width W of the intermediate locking groove 137 is largerthan the diameter d of the lower locking pin 332, the lower locking pin332 may smoothly enter the intermediate locking groove 137.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12A, 12B, and 12C, the upper cam groove 321 andthe lower cam groove 331 include first inclined cam surfaces 321 a and331 a coming into contact with the upper protrusion 341 or the lowerprotrusion 351 when the operation handle 310 is rotated in the openingdirection, and second inclined cam surfaces 321 b and 331 b coming intocontact with the upper protrusion 341 or the lower protrusion 351 whenthe operation handle 310 is rotated in the closing direction,respectively.

The first inclined cam surfaces 321 a and 331 a have lengths andvertical heights h1 longer than those of the second inclined camsurfaces 321 b and 331 b. Therefore, the first inclined cam surfaces 321a and 331 a, when coming into contact with the upper protrusion 341 orthe lower protrusion 351 that rotates in the opening direction, may movethe upper lifting member 320 and the lower lifting member 330 to theinner side of the frame 220 by a first distance h1, respectively. Also,the second inclined cam surfaces 321 b and 331 b, when coming intocontact with the upper protrusion 341 or the lower protrusion 351 thatrotates in the closing direction, may move the upper lifting member 320and the lower lifting member 330 to the inner side of the frame 220 by asecond distance h2 shorter than the first distance h1, respectively.

FIG. 12A illustrates a state in which the operation handle 310 isrotated in the opening direction in order to open the operation glass200 in a state in which the operation glass 200 is completely closed,FIG. 12B illustrates a state in which the lower locking pin 332 iscaught on the intermediate locking groove 137 by releasing the operationof the operation handle 310 in the process of moving the operation glass200 in the opening or closing direction, and FIG. 12C illustrates astate in which the operation handle 310 is rotated in the closingdirection in a state in which the operation glass 200 is completelyopened.

As in FIG. 12A, when the operation handle 310 is rotated in the openingdirection in a state in which the operation glass 200 is completelyclosed, the upper protrusion 341 and the lower protrusion 351 rotate inthe opening direction to come into contact with the first inclined camsurfaces 321 a and 331 a of the upper cam groove 321 and the lower camgroove 331. At this time, the rotating upper protrusion 341 and lowerprotrusion 351 press the first inclined cam surfaces 321 a and 331 ahaving relatively high heights, so that the upper lifting member 320 andthe lower lifting member 330 move to the inner side of the frame 220 bythe relatively long first distance h1. Therefore, the upper locking pin322 and the lower locking pin 332 are deviated from the locking grooves125 and 135, so that opening of the operation glass 200 is possible. Anupper end of the upper locking pin 322 descends to a lower position thanan upper surface of the upper guide groove 123, and a lower end of thelower locking pin 332 ascends to a higher position than a lower surfaceof the lower guide groove 133.

When the operation handle 310 is pulled in the opening direction in thestate of FIG. 12A, the operation glass 200 is opened by sliding. Whenthe operation of the operation handle 310 is released in the openingprocess, the operation handle 310 may be restored to its original stateby a restoring force of the restoration spring 390. As in FIG. 12B, whenthe operation of the operation handle 310 is released in the openingprocess, the lower locking pin 332 descends to be caught on theintermediate locking groove 137, so that stepwise opening or stepwiseclosing of the operation glass 200 is possible.

In the state of FIG. 12B, the upper protrusion 341 and the lowerprotrusion 351 are restored to their original state together with theoperation handle 310, but the upper end of the upper locking pin 322 iscaught on the upper surface of the upper guide groove 123, therebylimiting the ascending of the upper lifting member 320. Accordingly, theupper protrusion 341 is maintained in a state of being spaced apart fromthe inner surface of the upper cam groove 321. This is because a heightof the upper guide groove 123 is set lower than the maximum ascendingheight of the upper end of the upper locking pin 322.

Of course, in the state of FIG. 12B, because the lower locking pin 332descends to enter the intermediate locking groove 137, the lowerprotrusion 351 is maintained in a state of being caught on a boundarybetween the first inclined cam surface 133 a and the second inclined camsurface 133 b. Also, when an external force on the operation handle 310is released in a state in which the operation glass 200 is completelyopened, as in FIG. 12B, the lower locking pin 332 enters and is caughton the locking groove 138, and the upper end of the upper locking pin322 is caught on the upper surface of the upper guide groove 123, sothat the upper locking pin 322 is maintained in a state in which theascending thereof is limited.

As in FIG. 12C, when the operation handle 310 is rotated in the closingdirection in a state in which the operation glass 200 is completelyopened, the upper protrusion 341 and the lower protrusion 351 rotate inthe closing direction to come into contact with the second inclined camsurfaces 321 b and 331 b of the upper cam groove 321 and the lower camgroove 331. At this time, the rotating lower protrusion 351 presses thesecond inclined cam surfaces 321 b and 331 b having relatively lowheights, so that the lower lifting member 330 ascends to the inner sideof the frame 220 by the relatively short second distance h2.Accordingly, the lower locking pin 332 is deviated from the lockinggroove 135, and the operation glass 200 may move in the closingdirection. At this time, because the upper end of the upper locking pin322 is caught on the upper surface of the upper guide groove 123 so thatthe upper locking pin 322 is in a state in which the ascending thereofis limited, the upper protrusion 341 freely rotates in a state of beingspaced apart from the inner surface of the upper cam groove 321.

When the operation glass 200 in the state of FIG. 12C is pushed to thefully closed position and closed, the upper locking pin 322 is firstcaught by entering the locking groove 125 of the upper guide groove 123by the extension of the upper spring 381. The upper locking pin 322moves to the final closing position in a state in which the upper endthereof is caught on the upper surface of the upper guide groove 123 andthe ascending thereof is limited, so that the upper locking pin 322first ascends regardless of the operation of the operation handle 310 tobe caught on the locking groove 125. At this time, a slight hittingsound is generated as the upper locking pin 322 enters the lockinggroove 125, so that the user may easily recognize whether the operationglass 200 is completely closed.

When the operation handle 310 is released in a state in which theoperation glass 200 is completely closed, the upper locking pin 322 andthe lower locking pin 332 are maintained in a state of being caught onthe locking grooves 125 and 135, respectively, as in FIG. 10B, and theoperation handle 310 is restored to its original state by the restoringforce of the restoration spring 390.

As such, the flush glass apparatus according to the present embodimentmay move the operation glass 200 in a desired direction simply by anoperation to rotate the operation handle 310 of the locking device 300in the opening or closing direction, so that the operation glass 200 maybe easily opened and closed.

Further, the flush glass apparatus according to the present embodimentmay provide a beautiful appearance because the operation handle 310 maybe restored to its original state from the opened state, the closedstate, and a half opened state of the operation glass 200.

Further, in the flush glass apparatus according to the presentembodiment, the upper locking pin 322 first ascends regardless of theoperation of the operation handle 310 to be caught on the locking groove125 when the operation glass 200 is closed, and a slight hitting soundis generated as the upper locking pin 322 enters the locking groove 125,so that the user may easily recognize whether the operation glass 200 iscompletely closed.

As is apparent from the above, a flush glass apparatus according to anembodiment of the disclosure can move an operation glass in a desireddirection simply by an operation to rotate an operation handle in anopening or closing direction, so that the operation glass can be easilyopened and closed.

Further, the flush glass apparatus according to an embodiment of thedisclosure can provide a beautiful appearance because the operationhandle is restored to its original state from an opened state, a closedstate, and a half opened state of the operation glass.

Further, in the flush glass apparatus according to an embodiment of thedisclosure, an upper locking pin first ascends regardless of theoperation of the operation handle to be caught on a locking groove whenthe operation glass is closed, and a slight hitting sound is generatedas the upper locking pin enters the locking groove, so that a user caneasily recognize whether the operation glass is completely closed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flush glass apparatus comprising: an operationglass comprising a glass portion and a frame and configured to open andclose an opening of a fixed glass by sliding in a lateral direction; anda locking device configured to lock and unlock the operation glass,wherein the locking device comprises: an operation handle installed onthe frame to be rotated left and right and configured to be restored toits original state by a restoration spring; an upper lifting memberinstalled on an upper side of the frame and comprising an upper camgroove and an upper locking pin protruding above the frame; an upperoperation shaft having a lower side connected to the operation handleand an upper side entering the upper cam groove and comprising an upperprotrusion extending radially in the upper cam groove; an upper springconfigured to move the upper lifting member by pressing upward; a lowerlifting member installed on a lower side of the frame and comprising alower cam groove and a lower locking pin protruding to the lower side ofthe frame; a lower operation shaft having an upper side connected to theoperation handle and a lower side entering the lower cam groove andcomprising a lower protrusion extending radially in the lower camgroove; and a lower spring configured to move the lower lifting memberby pressing downward.
 2. The flush glass apparatus according to claim 1,wherein: the upper operation shaft is connected to the operation handleby an upper connection shaft having an upper side penetrating a lowerportion of the upper lifting member to enter the upper cam groove and alower side rotatably supported on the frame; and the lower operationshaft is connected to the operation handle by a lower connection shafthaving a lower side penetrating an upper portion of the lower liftingmember to enter the lower cam groove and an upper side rotatablysupported on the frame.
 3. The flush glass apparatus according to claim1, wherein the upper cam groove and the lower cam groove each comprise:a first inclined cam surface configured to come into contact with theupper protrusion or the lower protrusion when the operation handle isrotated in an opening direction and to move the upper lifting member orthe lower lifting member to an inner side of the frame by a firstdistance; and a second inclined cam surface configured to come intocontact with the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion when theoperation handle is rotated in a closing direction and to move the upperlifting member or the lower lifting member to an inner side of the frameby a second distance shorter than the first distance.
 4. The flush glassapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first inclined cam surfacehas a length and a height in a vertical direction longer than the secondinclined cam surface.
 5. The flush glass apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: an upper rail slidably supporting an upper portionof the frame and having an upper guide groove extending in a lengthwisedirection to guide a movement of the upper locking pin; and a lower railslidably supporting a lower portion of the frame and having a lowerguide groove extending in a lengthwise direction to guide a movement ofthe lower locking pin.
 6. The flush glass apparatus according to claim5, wherein the upper guide groove and the lower guide groove eachcomprise: a curved guide portion configured to induce the upper lockingpin or the lower locking pin to an outdoor side so that an outer surfaceof the operation glass forms a same plane as an outer surface of thefixed glass when the operation glass is completely closed; and a lockinggroove formed deeper upward or downward than the upper guide groove orthe lower guide groove so that the upper locking pin or the lowerlocking pin is caught thereon in a state in which the operation glass iscompletely closed.
 7. The flush glass apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the lower guide groove comprises: a plurality of intermediatelocking grooves formed deeper downward than the lower guide groove atpositions spaced apart from each other in a moving direction of thelower locking pin so that the lower locking pin protrudes and is caughtthereon in an opening process of the operation glass; and a lockinggroove formed deeper downward than the lower guide groove so that thelower locking pin protrudes and is caught thereon in a state in whichthe operation glass is completely opened.
 8. The flush glass apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein a width of the plurality of intermediatelocking grooves is formed larger than a diameter of the lower lockingpin.
 9. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a fixed glass coupled tothe vehicle body; an operation glass comprising a glass portion and aframe and configured to open and close an opening of the fixed glass bysliding in a lateral direction; an operation handle installed on theframe to be rotated left and right and configured to be restored to itsoriginal state by a restoration spring; an upper lifting memberinstalled on an upper side of the frame and comprising an upper camgroove and an upper locking pin protruding above the frame; an upperoperation shaft having a lower side connected to the operation handleand an upper side entering the upper cam groove and comprising an upperprotrusion extending radially in the upper cam groove; an upper springconfigured to move the upper lifting member by pressing upward; a lowerlifting member installed on a lower side of the frame and comprising alower cam groove and a lower locking pin protruding to the lower side ofthe frame; a lower operation shaft having an upper side connected to theoperation handle and a lower side entering the lower cam groove andcomprising a lower protrusion extending radially in the lower camgroove; and a lower spring configured to move the lower lifting memberby pressing downward.
 10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein: theupper operation shaft is connected to the operation handle by an upperconnection shaft having an upper side penetrating a lower portion of theupper lifting member to enter the upper cam groove and a lower siderotatably supported on the frame; and the lower operation shaft isconnected to the operation handle by a lower connection shaft having alower side penetrating an upper portion of the lower lifting member toenter the lower cam groove and an upper side rotatably supported on theframe.
 11. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the upper camgroove and the lower cam groove each comprise: a first inclined camsurface configured to come into contact with the upper protrusion or thelower protrusion when the operation handle is rotated in an openingdirection and to move the upper lifting member or the lower liftingmember to an inner side of the frame by a first distance; and a secondinclined cam surface configured to come into contact with the upperprotrusion or the lower protrusion when the operation handle is rotatedin a closing direction and to move the upper lifting member or the lowerlifting member to an inner side of the frame by a second distanceshorter than the first distance.
 12. The vehicle according to claim 11,wherein the first inclined cam surface has a length and a height in avertical direction longer than the second inclined cam surface.
 13. Thevehicle according to claim 9, further comprising: an upper rail slidablysupporting an upper portion of the frame and having an upper guidegroove extending in a lengthwise direction to guide a movement of theupper locking pin; and a lower rail slidably supporting a lower portionof the frame and having a lower guide groove extending in a lengthwisedirection to guide a movement of the lower locking pin.
 14. The vehicleaccording to claim 13, wherein the upper guide groove and the lowerguide groove each comprise: a curved guide portion configured to inducethe upper locking pin or the lower locking pin to an outdoor side sothat an outer surface of the operation glass forms a same plane as anouter surface of the fixed glass when the operation glass is completelyclosed; and a locking groove formed deeper upward or downward than theupper guide groove or the lower guide groove so that the upper lockingpin or the lower locking pin is caught thereon in a state in which theoperation glass is completely closed.
 15. The vehicle according to claim13, wherein the lower guide groove comprises: a plurality ofintermediate locking grooves formed deeper downward than the lower guidegroove at positions spaced apart from each other in a moving directionof the lower locking pin so that the lower locking pin protrudes and iscaught thereon in an opening process of the operation glass; and alocking groove formed deeper downward than the lower guide groove sothat the lower locking pin protrudes and is caught thereon in a state inwhich the operation glass is completely opened.
 16. The vehicleaccording to claim 15, wherein a width of the plurality of intermediatelocking grooves is formed larger than a diameter of the lower lockingpin.
 17. A locking device configured to lock and unlock an operationglass that comprises a frame, the locking device comprising: anoperation handle to be installed on the frame to be rotated left andright and configured to be restored to its original state by arestoration spring; an upper lifting member to be installed on an upperside of the frame and comprising an upper cam groove and an upperlocking pin protruding above the frame; an upper operation shaft havinga lower side connected to the operation handle and an upper sideentering the upper cam groove and comprising an upper protrusionextending radially in the upper cam groove; an upper spring configuredto move the upper lifting member by pressing upward; a lower liftingmember to be installed on a lower side of the frame and comprising alower cam groove and a lower locking pin protruding to the lower side ofthe frame; a lower operation shaft having an upper side connected to theoperation handle and a lower side entering the lower cam groove andcomprising a lower protrusion extending radially in the lower camgroove; and a lower spring configured to move the lower lifting memberby pressing downward.
 18. The locking device according to claim 17,wherein: the upper operation shaft is connected to the operation handleby an upper connection shaft having an upper side penetrating a lowerportion of the upper lifting member to enter the upper cam groove and alower side rotatably supported on the frame; and the lower operationshaft is connected to the operation handle by a lower connection shafthaving a lower side penetrating an upper portion of the lower liftingmember to enter the lower cam groove and an upper side rotatablysupported on the frame.
 19. The locking device according to claim 17,wherein the upper cam groove and the lower cam groove each comprise: afirst inclined cam surface configured to come into contact with theupper protrusion or the lower protrusion when the operation handle isrotated in an opening direction and to move the upper lifting member orthe lower lifting member to an inner side of the frame by a firstdistance; and a second inclined cam surface configured to come intocontact with the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion when theoperation handle is rotated in a closing direction and to move the upperlifting member or the lower lifting member to an inner side of the frameby a second distance shorter than the first distance.